Biba welcomes age change

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) welcomed the Government Equalities Office’s consultation paper outlining how insurance can be exempted from the Equalities Bill.

Equality Bill – Consultation on age discrimination in the provision of services and the exercise of public functions, outlines three options:

• strict implementation of the ban on age discrimination with objective justification.
• a tailored specific exception allowing for age to be used provided that it is proportionate to risk and costs, allowing the use of age bands and limits, along with a signposting service.
• allow for current practices to continue.

BIBA has lobbied for option two and the Government has stated that it is their preferred option.

Balance right

Graeme Trudgill, BIBA technical and corporate affairs executive, said: “The government has got the balance right in the proposed legislation, helping customers while avoiding any unintended consequences for the insurance industry. It is a great achievement to have government support for our position at this early stage in the consultation, especially with the intense lobbying from other bodies.

“Our members are able to offer access and availability to fairly priced insurance to consumers of all ages. We do not believe there is a market failure for older or younger people seeking insurance, particularly travel or motor.”

Opposed to age discrimination

Peter Staddon BIBA head of technical services added: “BIBA completely oppose unfair age discrimination. We believe that a fair system to help consumers, but does not force insurers to cover areas they have never dealt with, can be reached through proportionate risk based pricing and signposting. BIBA met with the Government Equalities Office and we will be doing their utmost to push this through.”